Folding cradle.



V. R. JOHNSON.

FOLDING CRADLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-29, 19m.

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FOLDING CRADLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.29.19I4.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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FOLDING CRADLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed September 29, 1914. Serial No. 864,145.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VICTOR R. JOHNSON, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Cradles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a folding cradle for use by automobilists for protecting them from lying flat upon the ground when crawling beneath a machine for repairing the same.

The primary obj ect of the invention is the provision of a cradle which is made of a plurality of hingedly connected sections, whereby the cradle may be folded up to form a composite article which may be conveniently carried about within the tool box of an automobile, and also to mountcasters upon the under surface of the cradle whereby when a person is lying upon the same beneath the automobile they may move about from place to place.

With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved cradle showing the same in an extended position. Fig. 2 is an end view of the cradle showing it folded. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through the folded cradle. Fig. i is a side elevation of the cradle in an extended position, and Fig. 5 is a side view of the cradle in a folded position showing part thereof broken away.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the cross slats of the cradle which have the terminal ends secured to the under surface of the horizontal por tion of various strips 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of angle iron. The strips of angle iron are connected in alinement with each other for forming two sides 10 and 11 of the cradle, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the strips 4:, 5, 8, and 9 have their vertical sides extending beyond the end of the horizontal side for forming ears 12. The ears 12 are pivotally connected to the vertical sides of the angle iron next to the one upon which they are formed, as is clearly shown in the drawing. Each alternate strip of angle iron which forms the sides 10 and 11 is of reduced size with respect to the strip next thereto, so that they may be folded in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings for forming a compact article. The alternate strips which are shorter than the strips next thereto increase in length to facilitate the proper folding of the cradle.

Certain of the slats 1 have casters 16 secured thereto, which casters are provided for resting upon the ground when the cradle is in an extended position for facilitating the moving about of the cradle by a person who is lying or sitting thereupon, and certain of said slats 1 have longitudinal slots 18 formed adjacent the sides to receive the casters 16 when the cradle is folded.

The strips 2 and 6 of angle iron are hingedly connected to the strips 3 and 7 respectively by hinges 17, which permit of the compact folding of these strips for positioning them centrally of or interiorly of the other strips when the cradle is in a folded position.

When it is desired to use the cradle beneath an automobile or like vehicle, the same is unfolded to assume an extended position as is shown in Figs. 1 and l of the drawings and the person who is going to repair the machine lies upon the cradle, and propels himself beneath the vehicle in the desired position for working upon the mechanism of the same. The cradle prevents the person from lying flat upon the ground and soiling his clothes upon contact with the dust or dirt of the roadway.

In reducing the invention to practice certain minor features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may necessitate alterations to which the patentee is entitled provided such alterations are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is In a cradle, for use by autoists, a plurality of relatively large and small sections hingedly connected adapted to form when folded a substantially rectangular object,

the relatively large sections forming the top In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature and bottom and the small sections forming in presence of 'two Witnesses.

the sides, and casters secured on the under VICTOR" R. JOHNSON. side of said sections, said sections having re- Witnesses:

cesses formed in their upper surface to re- ETHYL G. HUMPHREY.

ceive said casters When the sections are fold- FREDK. BEUNKE.

ed for the purpose specified.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

